Giggsy!!!!!!! Great yes, the best? Debatable

So Ryan Giggs turned forty today. Hats off to the great man whose career has spanned three separate decades, in which time he has won everything numerous times and become United's highest appearance maker. 

The man is a great player. He is the (despite recent super-injunctiongate furores) consummate professional, keeping his head down, eating correctly, drinking correctly and training sensibly. He still has an insatiable hunger for the game. These factors reveal the key to his longevity.

But the question remains... is he the best player the Premiership has seen? Er, no. Not by a long way I'm afraid. If the test was based on loyalty and longevity then yes, Giggs would win hands down. However, I base my opinions on 'the best' by who can alter a game, and who can alter the fortunes of a club. Cantona being one. When he came to United yes, fair enough they were already a top 3 club, but they hadn't won the title for 26 years. Cantona galvanised the team, the fans and the club and lifted them into the top position. Thierry Henry could change a game with his pace, vision and lightning quick brain. I was always worried when United faced Arsenal with Henry in the team, knowing he could be the difference. I would argue Peter Schmeichel used to win United at least 10 points per season with his incredible saves. 

Don't get me wrong I completely agree Giggs is and was a great player. He burst onto the scene in the early nineties, and I think they are still trying to untie the legs of the full backs he twisted into all shapes. As he got older he was able to develop his game from a flying winger into a ball playing midfield controller. However, pundits always cite his loyalty to the Manchester United, and yes that is undoubted. But I feel it is alot easier to be loyal to a club like Manchester United who are constantly winning trophies, than it would be to be loyal to be for a 'lesser' club like Stoke for example. Would Giggs have been as loyal if he had started at say Everton? Like hell he would.

Forgive me if this sounds like Ryan bashing. I assure you it's not- he has been one of my favourite United players since I began supporting the club. I just think it is important to get some perspective here. When someone reaches a milestone the media do tend to have a head freeze and start rolling out the awards willy nilly. The fact that Giggs is a great player is never in doubt. He will be remembered as one of United's greatest servants. But the best player ever in the Premier League? Do me a favour. 

What is Rock? Or, Kurt Cobain killed Rock Music

Currently I am reading Chuck Klosterman's 'Fargo Rock City', a book that chronicles episodically the 1980s in the form of rock music. It led to me to ask- just what is Rock and what constitutes Rock Music?

At this moment I am bobbing my head along to AC/DC's TNT. Now TNT is definitely Rock Music and AC/DC are the epitome of Rock. There are few bands that scream 'Rock' than AC/DC - and they definitely aren't Australian by the way. Listen to Bon Scott's grizzed, gravelly tones stinking with attitude as he fights to pronounce his lyrics. That's the point of Rock- why people aren't Rock and why people are, why people love it, why people hate it. There in one word. Attitude. It's a state of being. It's a swagger. You've got it or you haven't. Sorry. It's the aforementioned Bon Scott. It's Robert Plant. It's Mick Jagger. It's Ozzy Osbourne (minus the TV show). It's Axl Rose. It's Kurt Cobain. It's mentalists riding motorcycles through hotel corridors. It's nutters totalling their Rollers in their swimming pools. It's people who don't give a damn.

Rock music as an entity began back in the 60s when Keith Moon began slamming his skins demonically, and lasted right through to when Kurt Cobain emptied his brains all over his Seattle mansion. Anything else is a copy or not important. What was that? What about the Beatles? Ha. The Beatles may have become a pseudo-rock band by the time they imploded in 1970, but can you really see your Mum and Dad being worried that your sister brought Paul McCartney or George Harrison back home for the Sunday Roast? Thought not. And what was all of that 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' stuff? Not really Rock that is it? Bringing Keith Richards home though, with his face in his dinner, sleeping off whatever he'd taken a few hours previously. There's Dad, marching him out, but guess what? He doesn't care and why should he? 

The point of Rock is that it is untamed, uncontrolled, even devillish. That's why we really have to tread carefully as there is a sweeter, gentler, kinder sibling to Rock- known as Rock N Roll. Now this genre really is a broad church. It is a lot more polished, better marketed, better looking. It is Elvis, The Beatles, Cliff Richard (!), right through to Keane and Coldplay. In other words bands for middle class parties where someone has the audacity to slip a Sex Pistols track in, only to see the winces suddenly appear on most people's faces. 

Gun's N Roses' 'Welcome To The Jungle' has just come on. You can almost feel Rose's clenched stomach muscles as he growls the words through gritted teeth. This is Rock. The lyrics mean something, a whole lot, to Axl Rose. Emotion seeps through his words, finding our pores and we feel it too. Rock is believing in something. Believing in yourself. Keeping your beliefs. Yes, it's imperfect. But that's what we want. It's real and it's edgy. Put Gary Barlow in a TV studio and everyone relaxes. Put Johnny Rotten or Keith Moon in there and everyone is on edge. That's the power of Rock. That's why I love it and always will.   

Bill Foulkes 1932-2013

The footballing world, and particularly that of Manchester United, today mourned the loss of a true legend- Bill Foulkes, who has died aged 81. He was a giant of a man in every sense of the word. A man-mountain who dedicated his footballing career to Manchester United. Ever loyal, he formed a solid platform for those arguably more talented players, Edwards, Charlton, Law and Best, to wreak havoc on the defences of Britain and Europe.

                                            

Foulkes began his footballing career in unlikely circumstances that are as far removed from the modern game as possible. Foulkes, then still unsure of his own ability, insisted that he would only sign for Manchester United as a part-timer, whilst keeping on his back-breaking job as a coal miner in Lea Green, St. Helens. However, in December 1952 Matt Busby hauled him into his office to inform him that he would play at right back against Liverpool the following day. Soon enough Foulkes became a cornerstone of Busby's vision for the Manchester United of the future, helping them to First Division Championships in 55/56 and 56/57. 

                                                      

The club looked set for great things until disaster struck on 6th February 1958. The Munich Air Disaster claimed the lives of 8 Manchester United players. Foulkes himself was unhurt but returned to the scene to drag his team mates from the wreckage. Foulkes, Charlton and Busby then formed the bulwark for Manchester United to rebuild after such a tragic event. 

                                                

The club rebuilt gradually, but managed to win further titles in 1964/65 and 1966/67, leading them into a last-chance saloon chance in the 1968 European Club. This brought arguably Foulkes' finest hour, slotting in the goal against the might of Real Madrid, in doing so catapulting Manchester United into the European Cup Final, eventually running out 4-1 winners against Benfica at Wembley. From the ashes of Munich had come yet another great side.

Foulkes played a handful of games after the great 68 triumph, instead moving into coaching- a role that took him around the globe, yet unfortunately didn't adequately fill his pockets as he tragically had to sell his treasured memorabilia in 1992 because 'he needed the money'. 

Bill Foulkes played 688 games for Manchester United, scoring 9 goals. He is fourth in the club's all time appearances list behind Ryan Giggs, Bobby Charlton and Paul Scholes. 

Winter Running Survival Guide

Just got back from my run and brrrrr it was cold! We all still want to go running in winter. Fair enough it may not be as enjoyable as our summer running, but the benefits we get are exactly the same. You can still go running in winter if you follow this simple winter survival guide.

1. Have the Motivation

It's easy in summer to run- it stays light later and it's so warm we can still go out late into the night. Winter however is a different ball game. By the time we get back from work it's already dark, cold and generally depressing. It's far too easy to look out at the darkness and just sit on the couch all night. Simply all I can say is that you must force yourself to get out there and focus on how good you will feel after that first mile. Motivation is the key. Whilst at work think, and visualize what you will be doing later. I will run! I will run!

                                                  

2. Dress Correctly

In summer we're used to just strapping our trainers on heading on out for a run. Not so in winter- in fact this attitude could be dangerous! We need to dress correctly to avoid discomfort and injury. Start with a 'layering' method. A breathable long sleeved top and running tights are a must in winter. Too compound this, I usually wear compression socks for my calves as they allow my muscles to warm up even before I have started. Over my breathable long sleeved top I wear a breathable running t shirt, with a high visibility gillet or other such sleeveless jacket. Because we're mainly running in the darkness in winter, hi-vis clothing is imperative. BE SAFE- BE SEEN. Further to this wear gloves and a hat to keep your extremities warm!

                                                  

3. Warm-Up

You wouldn't start a car and rev the hell out of it before it had warmed up properly would you? So why do you just head out of the front door and tear off into the night? Cold muscles=higher chance of injury. So the best thing to do is simply set out running very slowly for 5-10 minutes until you feel warm. Now stop by a lamp post and begin your pre workout stretching routine. It may seem like a pain, but picture the scenario:- you are half way through a marathon training programme and it's going really well. You set off for a quick evening run in the cold.... you tear a muscle in your calf.... marathon is over. Disaster. So it really is worth taking a few minutes to warm up and stretch!

4. Post-Run

Make sure to warm down with a little jog turning slowly into a walk. Follow this with your usual stretching routine. It is important to continue to move- you do not want to be still and have your muscles seize up. Then.... the good bit.... get inside and get into that hot steaming shower and reflect on what you have achieved. Relive the toughest bits and how you rose to the challenge. Well done.

                                                    

5. Reward Yourself

Winter running is difficult as we all know. The benefits to your body and brain are evident, but it's so important to reward yourself. You've tried hard just getting out there in the first place. You've dug in, grafted and returned from battle a stronger person so go on treat yourself. Whether it's chocolate, music, films or whatever, go on... you earned it. Great job.